Analysis of postharvest handling of table eggs produced in San Jose, Batangas, Philippines

Abstract

© 2017, International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved. The study analyzed the postharvest handling practices done on table eggs by the market participants in San Jose, Batangas, Philippines through a survey conducted from February to May 2016. Data obtained from 60 farmer-respondents and 31 market intermediary-respondents were subjected to cost and returns analysis, partial budgeting, and combination of price margin and ladder pricing analysis along with descriptive analysis. Forward tracing was performed to identify the channels where table eggs passed before reaching final consumers. Farmers, assembler-wholesalers, wholesalers and retailers were involved in the marketing of table eggs produced in San Jose, Batangas. Practices performed can be a combination of the following: assembly, cleaning, sorting and grading, storing, packaging and transporting. Assembly and transporting are usually done by the assembler-wholesalers. Farmers store the eggs at their houses while market intermediaries have their own storage houses. Farmers used polystyrene trays whereas market intermediaries used the cheaper egg carton trays. Results revealed that small- to medium-scale farmers and traders manually sorted and graded the eggs while only a few large-scale farmers used mechanized grading facilities. Both did not conform to the Philippine National Standards. Re-grading was practiced along the marketing chain resulting to re-grading profit. It was concluded that farmers and market-intermediaries who adopt postharvest handling practices generated more profit. Promoting awareness on the proper performance of cleaning as a postharvest handling practice to minimize losses was recommended. The use of uniform standards by the BAFPS-PNS was likewise suggested to be properly implemented in cooperation with the local government units (LGU) serving as the front-liner.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences

ISSN

8593132

Page

169-181

Document Type

Article

Subject

Egg quality standards, Ladder pricing, Profitability, Re-grading

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